3322: Misapprition - artemisgirl

[pottersues]

fanfic contest Please don't ask how I found the link of the day. I'm not entirely sure myself, but I don't agree with the article. The comments are as amusing as the article. Each era... no... year... is going to have it's good and it's bad.
- Flashback Sue is related to the article.

TITLE: Misapparition
PERPETRATOR: artemisgirl
SUE-O-METER:

Comments

[beacon80]

I'll acknowledge it's an original "symptom" of having a soul mate, but not enough to get over the crap that is predestined soul mates in the first place.

And of course, Veelas having predestined mates makes no sense in the first place. Why would a creature who apparently can't not find their mate need the ability to entrance men?

[pottersues]

Touché on the last part. I doubt the writers of Veela romance actually keep that part in mind.

[ext_2118339]

I don't really have any issues with soulmates and soul bonds - just the insane way many writers handle them in Potterverse. :D

Finding a soulmate doesn't necessarily imply "predestination." It merely implies compatibility. But because of the cultural background assumptions based on religious beliefs, many people do automatically presume that soulmate implies "destined to be together." One can go one's entire life without finding someone they are compatible with.

(In my own fics, on the matter of "destined to be together" I tend to write each character's own views on the subject. I write Hermione as not really believing in predestination, though others in my fics might. I'm agnostic on the matter of destiny myself [as one of the implications is lack of Free Will], though I do believe in soulmates).

I think your point regarding Veelas and predestined mates are bang on target though! :)

[beacon80]

I don't really have a problem with soulmates or soulbonds. There's nothing wrong with two characters being destined to be together. The problem here (and in other fics) is that it's being used as a cheap replacement for character development.

An example of this being done right is Garion and Ce'Nedra, from the Belgarion. It's been written down for a thousand years that the Tolnedran princess (Ce'Nedra) will marry the Rivan King (Garion). The audience knows this. Ninety percent of the cast knows this. The only two who don't are Ce'Nedra (who doesn't know that Garion is the Rivan King) and Garion (who doesn't even know about the agreement, or that he's the Rivan King, for that matter). So they can actually struggle with their teenage emotions for each other rather naturally.

[ext_2118339]

I agree. Plot Devices should never replace Character Development.

Characters should express themselves through their reactions to the events of the Plot, but the characters shouldn't be driven by it, and should sometimes even be given the wheel.

But beware, sometimes your characters will rewrite the whole bloody story if you let them! :P

[yemi_hikari]

I think the problem lies with the fact these writers focus on the "destined to be together" part and forget that soul mates are also expected to be "compatible" as well. There are are plenty of people in history and literature who were "destined to be together", but actually weren't "compatible". These relationships wouldn't be called "soul mates" when they're examined.

I personally like the "red string" which focuses more on compatibility then "destined to be". In some cases the couple is fated for tragedy, or other turmoil.

[ext_2118339]

I agree.

Though I no longer have the stomach for reading (or watching) Tragedies. Too much of that in Real Life. I'm a fan of Happy Endings in Fiction! :P :D